Barnes Compton Politician

Barnes Compton (16 November 1830 – 2 December 1898) was a planter and politician, born in Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland and orphaned as a child. In 1851, Compton took control of his numerous estates, becoming wealthy and the second largest slaveholder in Maryland. He was elected as a state representative before the Civil War and as speaker of the state house.After the war, Compton continued to be active in Democratic Party politics. He was appointed as Maryland State Treasurer, serving more than a decade, from 1872-1885. He was repeatedly elected to the US House of Representatives from the fifth congressional district of Maryland (serving 1884–1894, although unseated in 1889 for one term by a House Committee as a result of its ruling of voter fraud and intimidation in the 1888 election.)Compton served in many leadership roles for public welfare and educational institutions, on the board of trustees for Charlotte Hall Academy, the School Commission of Charles County, and the Maryland Insane Asylum. In addition, he led private institutions, and was director of Citizens Savings Bank in Laurel, Maryland.